This huge work, in 15 volumes (vol. 15 being an index in three volumes
[ jô-chû-ge] ), took eighteen years to produce, and
was finally completed in 1997. This is now the standard multi-volume
historical dictionary of Japan. It is mainstream in its approach: reliable
but conservative and unimaginative. The signed entries, by senior experts,
give good bibliographical references. One special strength are the remarkable
collections of color illustrations that appears for various entries. Since
it appeared gradually over close to two decades, some of the scholarship
in the early volumes is already becoming outdated. The index is divided
into four different parts: historical materials (shiryô),
place names (chimei), person's names (jinmei), and topics
(jikô), so be careful that you have the right section.

This seven-volume dictionary appeared just as the Kokushi daijiten
was
nearing completion, and it was intended to provide more up-to-date scholarship
in a more compact form. On the whole, it lives up to its promise: the editorial
policy is more adventurous, the articles are by a younger generation, and
it is generally more interesting and imaginative. If the
Kokushi daijiten
is what you use for reference, this is what you use for provocation and
sheer interest. Articles are signed and provide full publication information
for references. It includes large color illustrations, although not as
impressive as those in the
Kokushi daijiten.

This wholly new compact historical dictionary from Iwanami appeared
in late 1999 as a challenge to the Kadokawa Nihonshi jiten (see
next entry). A CD-ROM edition appeared in late 2000, at a price considerably
less than the paper version, so this would certainly be the preferable
form for those whose computers can handle Japanese-language CD-ROMs.

This dictionary of manners and customs covers everything from Heian
coiffures to various types of privies. The entries, in gojûon order,
are easy to read and often illustrated with finely executed drawings and
photographs. Includes both a comprehensive index and a table of contents
listing every entry under twenty-three classifications; clothing, hair-styles,
dwellings, etc. A section of color plates of Naniwa clay figures, Japanese
armor, flags, etc. Appendixes have calendrical charts, illustrations of
costume, etc. Has a list of bibliographic references in the back.

A handbook of Japanese history from ancient times through the end of
the Heian Period. The first two sections contain a discussion of methodology
and a historiographic overview of trends and major issues in ancient studies.
The body of the book is an short encyclopedia, entries appear in gojûon
order under six classifications: subjects, people, books, temples and shrines,
places, and character compounds that include a number (meisû).
Most entries include a brief bibliography. Historical charts in appendices,
also an index. Useful for providing a newcomer to the field with a general
introduction to methodology and issues.

This is how Japanese scholars keep up with the field -- read this, and
you'll know what everyone's talking about. Since 1949, the May issue has
discussed the historical research appearing in Japanese during the previous
calendar year, under the title, "Nihon rekishi gakkai no kaiko to tenbô."
Japanese history is organized by period. Within each period, untitled,
signed articles outline recent approaches and advances in a changing variety
of fields or subjects. See next item for a cumulative edition through 1985.
After that date, you must search out the separate volumes for each year.

May issues of Shigaku Zasshi from 1949-1985, cumulated by historical
era. Includes a very helpful index in back of all authors of works cited,
so you can find out where a scholar is placed in the field.

A useful guide to postwar Japanese historiography (especially from the
1960s through 1980s) on the early modern period. The book is divided into
8 sections: the state; status; villages; cities; popular movements; thought
and culture; regional history; and sources and methodology. Each sections
includes a general overview and signed articles on specific subjects within
the field, outlining the historiography and including complete citations
for important works discussed.

B. FINDING AND EVALUATING
SOURCES

¢*** John Hall, Japanese History: A guide to Japanese reference
and research materials. University of Michigan Center for Japanese
Studies, 1954.
Call no.: REF Z3306 .H27 1973

A carefully compiled annotated bibliography of over 1500 titles in Japanese--many
of the most important published sources on pre-1868 history. Although
very old, it is still of use for its discussions of collections of historical
materials and older bibliographies, and reference works. Out of print at
Michigan, but Greenwood Publishing [(203) 226-3571] offers a reprint for
$38.50.

An annotated bibliography of primary and secondary sources in Japanese
history, compiled over a period spanning WW2 by Endô Motoo and Shimomura
Fujio. The first volume is divided into 3 sections: individual historical
works and documents, series works and collections, and major non-Japanese
works. The second volume contains additional works compiled in the same
format subsequent to the publication of volume one, a section on local
history (a flourishing new field in Japan at the time), and a section listing
Japanese newspapers and general-readership magazines (of the authors' selection),
and non-Japanese language newspapers and periodicals (gaijishi) published
in 19th century Japan. In the individual document sections, the entries
are in gojûon order, and each heading is followed by roughly 10-20
lines describing the work and giving location or sources for further reference.
Citations, however, are incomplete. The historical documents included are
primarily works available in modern printed form, although unpublished
writing deemed particularly important is also listed. Pure literature has
been passed over, but historically valuable diaries and zuihitsu are included.
Collections are listed in gojûon order with their contents following.
Comprehensive indexes for each volume list parts of collections and other
works which were not given their own headings. Since "kindai" entries were
only included as a postwar afterthought, on all but local history, the
bibliography is predominantly pre-modern.

A single volume bibliography of research works on Japanese history from
Meiji period to 1972. Does not include primary source collections, compilations
of monographs of an overly specialized nature, or works related to postwar
Japan. Organized in ten fields, within each of which headings appear in
gojûon order. Some have brief descriptive blurbs, some have only
publication information. Does not look remarkably useful for gathering
sources in one's field of speciality, but might be a quick reference for
major works in an unfamiliar area.

A handbook for researchers in Tokugawa ("kinsei") Japanese history.
The editor is also author of Bakuhansei shakai no tenkai katei and
Kinsei
no komonjo. The present book includes introductory essays on major
topics by members of Nihon daigaku kinseishi kenkyûkai, how-to chapters
on kinsei historical research, and a directory of basic data, from Edo
administration to premodern weights and measures, in charts and short explanatory
articles. This material can probably all be found elsewhere (in connection
with anything in the city Edo, for example, in the more recent Edogaku
jiten), but this still looks like a reasonable place to go for cogent
summaries and basic data. Might be worth owning.

For more detailed background and information on specific works in major
collections, consult not only the more specific kaidai, but also
the Kokushi bunken kaisetsu, the Kokusho kaidai, and entries
in the Kokushi daijiten.

An annotated bibliography of primary works, listed in gojûon order
by title. Starting in the middle of the second volume are: 1) an author
index that tells you where in the Kokusho kaidai the person will
be most fully addressed; 2) subject index; 3) index by stroke number; and
4) the contents of collections, zenshû, etc. by the title of the
collection.

An annalistic history of the classical variety, divided into 12 multi-volume
sections covering different historical periods. Sixteen are planned. Headings
denote historical events, and are followed by a brief description and texts
of all supporting documents. A full description of this compilation is
provided in Herschel Webb's Research in Japanese Sources: A Guide.
Dai
Nihon komonjo compiles Nara period documents, documents of institutions
and families and bakumatsu period documents on foreign relations. It is
important to understand that these enormous compilations are strictly chronologies
of events. It is therefore extremely difficult to study any historical
theme across time. On the other hand, events covered are completely documented
and annotated.

The standard collection of pre-Meiji primary and historical writings.
Students of pre-modern Japan will often find citations to volumes in this
collection. Although it is sometimes a bit confusing to sort out the supplement
volumes from the main volumes, it is usually quite easy to find what you're
looking for. On the other hand, it is not an easy work to use as a starting
point in your research. Before attempting to attack this giant all by yourself,
see if the following volume is of any assistance:

This work is supposed to be complete in two volumes, and the library
should have volume 2 (that is, if it has--or ever will--come out). It is
a thoroughly annotated guide to the
Kokushi taikei including copious
references, though it is not a comprehensive index by any means. Vol. 1
covers through volume 37.

A compendious assemblage of materials dealing with every imaginable
aspect of pre-modern Japan. Based on the model of the great Chinese encyclopedias,
the project was carried out by the Bureau of Shintô Shrines (Jingû
Shinchô). It was first published in 350 volumes from 1896 to 1913,
but all works mentioned are pre-Restoration. The work is divided into 30
broad categories each of which is represented by an introductory essay
and a set of relevant primary and early secondary documents.

Chances are that you will often be sent to this work by a reference
in some other secondary work or bibliographic guide, and since it has many
documents available nowhere else it is an important source for scholars
of Japanese culture.

Should you want to set about looking things up on your own, volume 60
has a complete table of contents and a subject index of entries in gojûon
order. The indexing system is a bit disconcerting at first, but once one
gets used to it, it is quite straightforward. The trick is to ignore the
superfluous information (which seems to refer to the section and satsu
numbering of an earlier edition). The volume is indicated by single-kanji
abbreviations. (Some conscientious scholar has tipped in a handwritten
guide to volume abbreviations and volumes numbers at the rear of the volume).
After that all you need is the page number, which is in the last slot.

Apparently there is a new reprint, 1967-1972 in 51 volumes available.
We might need it soon, the index volume especially is very brittle.

This is another one those massive classifed compendia, along the lines
of Koji ruien, though with more emphasis on literary and cultural
than legal or institutional matters. Each topic is represented by a selection
of relevant passages from texts culled from over 10,000 Japanese as well
as Chinese books. It also includes numerous biographies of historical figures.
It can be considered an encyclopedic dictionary, including definitions
of all terms the quotation of most, but not all, of the passages cited
in Mozume's index, Gunsho sakuin. (If you want to be thorough, you
thus must go to Gunsho sakuin to see what you missed.) For literary
historians, this work often holds the key to perplexing questions concerning
literary terms and allusions.

Although it was not originally intended as such, it now is basically
used as an index to
Kôbunko, listing about 50,000 items (arranged
in gojûon order) covering various subjects with citations culled
from over 10,000 pre-Meiji sources. More subjects are covered here than
either
Koji ruien or Kôbunko. It does not contain definitions
as does Kôbunko.

This collection of over 1,200 miscellaneous writings was completed 1819
under the editorial direction of the Tokugawa scholar Hanawa Hokiichi (1746-1821)
who was an amazing man, if only for that fact that carved out such a prominent
place for himself in scholarly and literary cirlces despite being blind
from the age of five. His was known as "The Blind Jellyfish" in kyôka
circles. One is usually sent to this work by some other work such as the
Kokusho sômokuroku. It has katsuji versions of many texts that
can be found nowhere else. Volume 1 contains a table of contents and an
index to titles.

Zoku gunsho ruijû. 1923-30. 72 vols.
Call no.: (see previous entry)

Modeled on the Gunsho ruijû, this is its massive supplement
compiled by Hanawa Hokiichi's son, Tadatomo (1807-62).

Gunsho kaidai.
Call no.: Z3302 .G85 1962

Provides information on the authorship, creation, and content of texts
in the Gunsho ruijû.